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Bulldogs land Freshman All-SEC LB Jalen Smith from transfer portal

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•12/19/24•

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Jalen Smith
USA Today Sports

Coleman Hutzler’s Mississippi State defense got a major boost on Thursday as the Bulldogs landed a freshman All-SEC linebacker from the transfer portal.

Tennessee redshirt freshman Jalen Smith was announced for the Bulldogs first reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Smith chose State after recent visits to Virginia Tech and Auburn and is currently considered the No. 7 linebacker in the portal according to On3.

Smith was a contributor for the Volunteers this season on the way to their playoff push and had 34 tackles in 12 games with 1.5 tackles for loss.

His 2024 led him to Freshman All-SEC honors by the league coaches and he was one of just four linebackers in the league to make the list. Prior to this season, Smith cut his teeth in five games last year with four tackles in reserve duty on the way to earning a redshirt.

A native of Loganville, Ga. and alum of talent-rich Grayson High School, Smith was on the verge of four-star status as a senior in the class of 2023. He was rated an 89 by the On3 Industry Rankings and was the No. 42 LB nationally.

His senior year netted a Class 7A, Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year award as he racked up an incredible 154 tackles with 17.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Offers out of high school included LSU, Miami, Texas, Oregon, USC, South Carolina, Colorado and many others.  

Smith is the 11th member of State’s transfer portal class and Hutzler has now landed seven new faces to try to bolster his defense for 2025.

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